Do you want your son or daughter to earn an athletic scholarship that will allow them to pursue a career as a professional in their sport?
The NCAA research department has compiled data that sheds light on the prospects of achieving that goal. As will be shown below, the chances of going pro are greatest for athletes who pursue professional careers in baseball or hockey.
Men’s Basketball
• Less than 1 in 35 high school seniors play in the NCAA.
• About 1 in 75 NCAA seniors get drafted by an NBA team.
• 3 in 10,000 high school seniors play in the NCAA and are drafted by an NBA team.
Women’s Basketball
• About 3 in 100 high school seniors play in the NCAA.
• Less than 1 in 100 NCAA seniors get drafted by a WNBA team.
• 2 in 10,000 high school seniors play in the NCAA and are drafted by a WNBA team.
Football
• About 1 in 16 high school seniors play in the NCAA.
• Less than 1 in 50 NCAA seniors get drafted by a NFL team.
• 8 in 10,000 high school seniors play in the NCAA and are drafted by an NFL team.
Baseball
• About 3 in 50 high school seniors play in the NCAA.
• Less than 9 in 100 NCAA seniors get drafted by a MLB team.
• 1 in 200 high school seniors play in the NCAA and are drafted by an MLB team.
Men’s Ice Hockey
• About 11 in 100 high school seniors play in the NCAA.
• Less than 1 in 26 NCAA seniors get drafted by a NHL team.
• 1 in 300 high school seniors play in the NCAA and are drafted by an NHL team.
Men’s Soccer
• Less than 3 in 50 high school seniors play in the NCAA.
• Less than 1 in 50 NCAA seniors get drafted by a MLS team.
• 1 in 1,250 high school seniors play in the NCAA and are drafted by an MLS team.
The data presented above and in the table below was updated on September 27, 2011 and posted at www.ncaa.org. These percentages are based on estimated data and should be considered approximations of the actual percentages (NCAA disclaimer).
Clearly, academics have to be important to most of the athletes who participate in college programs.
